The government has allocated NT$5 billion for the Cancer Drug Fund (CDF) for 2025. The recently announced Principles of the Special Fund for Conditional Listing of New Cancer Drugs specify that new cancer drugs and those treating new indications whose efficacy have been verified by clinical trials but are not on the National Health Insurance (NHI) fee schedule due to the NHI global budget limitations, as well as other drugs deemed necessary by the National Health Insurance Administration (NHIA), are eligible for conditional NHI reimbursement.

The Pharmaceutical Benefit and Reimbursement Scheme Joint committee may approve conditional reimbursement of new drugs, typically for two to three years and no longer than five years before assessing whether said drug should be included on the NHI fee schedule. Following assessment, a decision will be made on whether the drug will be included in the NHI fee schedule as well as patient eligibility for the drug. In the event that some patients are ineligible for NHI coverage of the drug, the manufacturer will be required to assist parents in seeking alternative treatments and supply the drug free of charge for up to one year while the patients transition to alternatives to avoid disruption to treatment.

In addition, utilization of the cancer drug funding will be made public on the NHIA’s website, with information including the drugs in question and its reimbursement terms and the number of hospitals, doctors and patients involved in its prescription, as well as the amount of funds used and remaining, among other details.

[2025-03-25/Liberty Times]